Locking mechanism for ironing machines



Nov. 28, 1933- N. ETTEN LOCKING MECHANISM FOR IRONING MACHINES Filed Sept. 21, 1931 Patented Nov. 28, 1933 LOCKING MECHANISM FOR IRONING MACHINES Nicholas LQEtten, Waterloo, Iowa, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Chamberlain Corpora tion, a corporation of Iowa Application September 21, 1931 Serial No. 564,021 x 2 Claims. (01. 68-9) This invention relates to improvements in ironing machines of that type having astationary frame member and a. movable arm or frame member pivotally mounted near one end and 5 adapted to support a presser head and to be moved from a closed to an open position.

In this type of ironing machines the free end of the movable frame member is attached to the free end of the fixed frame member by a suitable l0 locking mechanism, thus forming a closed frame when locked with the presser members within the frame, the locking mechanism more or less interfering with the placing of large articles to be ironed'between the presser membeis.

It is, therefore, the object of my invention to provide an improved locking mechanism for the swinging arm adapted tobe attached to the pivoted end of the swinging arm to lock the free end .of the frame member against outward movement and to leave one end open, and in connection therewith hand actuated means attached to the free end of the pivoted frame for operating the locking mechanism.

My invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the frame members and the presser supporting arms, showing the manner in which my improved locking mechanism is applied thereto.

Figure 2is a side elevation of the same.

of the stationary frame members and its coacting pivoted arm, showing the manner in which the lock is applied thereto.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I

have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a supporting member, which is adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly a slight distance by means of suitable fluid operatedmechanism 33 such as is in common use.

The upper end of the member 10 has what is commonly known as a buck. 11, which is designed to move toward and from the head member 12 a slight distanceand to apply pressure to the head member after the article to be ironed has been inserted between them.

The head 12 is supported by a pair of pivotally suitable spacers 15. The head 12 is secured to Figure 3 is a detailview of the rear end of one the outside members 1% by means .of suitable brackets '16. Q A The under surface of each of 'the members 14 near its rear end is provided with'a downwardly 7 extended portion 17 designed tosupport a pivot 3 18 carried by upwardly extending portions 19 of the stationary frame members 20. 'The'members 20 have rearwardly'ezitending portions 21 de-" signedto support a pivot 22 on which a bell crank lever 23 is mounted. The lever 23 is mounted between the members 21 and has a vertical leg" 24 and a horizontal leg 25.: 'The upper'end of the leg 24 is'pivotall'y i connected tQ'a, link 26 which inturnis pivotally connected to'the rear end of the arm l3 "by '7 means of a pivot 27.- The arm 26 has an upwardly extended portion 28, to which one end of. a link 29 is pivotally connected. Said link 29 projects forwardly and between the members 14 and terminates near the forward end of said members. v

Pivotally mounted between the forward ends of the members 14 is a rock arm 30, the. upper end of which is pivotally connected with the link 29. The lower end of the arm 30 is attached to go one end of a handle 31. The opposite end of said handle is connected to the arm 30 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure l.

The members 24 and 26 form what I shall term toggle links designed to have their inner pivoted 35 It will readily be seen that by this arrange- 9o ever, by the horizontal leg 25 engaging a stop 10o.

pin 32.

By this arrangement it will further be seen that if upward pressure is applied to the under side of the free end of the arms 14, the rear ends of said arms will be moved downwardly, placing the links 24 and 26 under compression strain, tending to buck their pivot centers outwardly. Said outward movement is limited, however, by the pin 32, thus locking the free ends of the arms 14 against outward movement.

To release the lock, the operator simply grasps the handle 31 and moves it outwardly a slight distance, after which the free ends of the arms 14 may be swung upwardly.

In actual operation the member is normally lowered to the'dotted line position illustrated in Figure 2, with the arms 14 in their dotted line position. The article to be ironed is then'placed on the buck 11. The arms 14 are lowered, carrying with them the head member 12, said arms being locked against upward movement. The buck 10 is then elevated by the fluid operated mecha nism 33 and pressureapplied in the usual manner.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a locking mechanism for the swinging arms of an ironing machine, which is connected to the rear end of the swinging arm in such a manner, as to leave a space between the free ends of the arms and the forward end of the frame memb'ers'20, so that large articles being ironed, such as sheets, may have oneof their side edges project downwardly and outward through the space between the free ends of the movable arms and the sta tionary arms.

I 'claim as my invention: 1. In a device of the class described, a support, a pressing buck mounted on said support, a pair of spaced and parallel arms pivoted to said sup- 3O port, a head mounted on the forward end of said arms over said buck, said arms having rearwardly extending portions, toggle links for pivotallyconnecting the. rearwardly extending portions of said arms to the support, the outer ends of one set of corresponding links each having a "leg extending laterally thereto, the outer ends ofthe other set of corresponding links each having portion extending longitudinally thereof,

a rock arm pivotally mounted to the free end of each of the first arms, a link pivotally connecting one end of each rock arm with the longitudinally extending portion of a corresponding one of said toggle links, a handle carried by the free ends of said rock arms, and stop pins mounted to engage the laterally extending legs of said links to lock said toggles in straightened position and said head in pressing engagement with said buck, whereby an operator may grasp the handle and by a single outward and upward movement first unlock the toggle and finally to swing the free ends of said arms to an open position.

2. In a device of the class described, a support, a pressing buck mounted on said support, a pair of spaced and parallel arms pivoted to said support, a head mounted on the forward end of said arms over said buck, said arms having rearwardly extending portions, toggle links for pivotally connecting the rearwardly extending portions of said arms to the support, the outer ends or" one set of corresponding links each having a portion extending longitudinally thereof, a rock arm pivotally mounted to the free end of each of the first arms, a link pivotally connecting one end of each rock arm with a longitudinally extending portion of a corresponding one of said toggle links, a handle carried by the free ends of said rock arms, means for limiting the movement of said toggle links in one direction to lock said toggles in a straightened position and said head in pressing engagement with said buck, whereby an operator may grasp the handle and by a single outward swinging movement first unlock the toggle and finally swing the free ends of said arms to open position.

.NICl-IOLAS L. ETTEN. 

